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Ministry Leadership

Charlie & Debbie Chivers – Founders & Executive Directors

Missionaries Charlie & Debbie Chivers founded Special Touch Ministry in 1982 when they decided to dedicate their lives serving people with disabilities. From the National Office in Wisconsin, together with the board of directors and other executive leadership they direct and oversee the development and implementation of the many programs and services offered by Special Touch Ministry, Inc. Charlie is also responsible for overseeing national disability ministry for the Assemblies of God. They also co-coordinate the annual Wisconsin Summer Get Away.

Joe & Ann Trementozzi – Missionaries

Joe and Ann Trementozzi have been involved in full-time missions work for over 15 years. As fully appointed U.S. Missionaries, they joined Special Touch in 2007. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the birth of their daughter Beth Ann, who has special needs, their calling is to serve people with disabilities and their families with compassion and the love of Christ. In addition to administratively serving in the Summer Get Away, Chapter, and Missionary Associate programs, Joe and Ann also travel to local churches and other venues creating awareness of the need for people with disabilities and their families to become a vital part of church and society.
Contact Info: (Joe)321-480-9806 (Ann)321-543-8729 trementozzi@specialtouch.org

Brad Mattrisch – Special Touch National Coordinator of Support Ministries

Brad has been involved with Special Touch Ministry since 1982, where at the very first Summer Get Away, he sensed God calling him to help people understand the Bible.
At birth, Brad experienced a delay in breathing for twenty-six minutes that led to Cerebral Palsy. The doctors gave his parents little hope that he would survive, let alone aspire to leadership. With God’s help, Brad earned degrees in Management Computer Systems and Bible & Systematic Theology. He is working on his Master’s degree. Brad is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and Special Touch Missionary Associate. Although Brad has some physical challenges, they merely serve as keys to open doors that restrict people with disabilities from hearing the gospel. He fulfills a number of roles out of the Special Touch National Office, including software and application development, ministry curriculum production, article writing, and Pastoral Care management. Brad’s Promotional Video [YouTube]Brad’s Ministry Brochure

Thomas & Angelia Carpenter – HisAbility International Missionaries

Rev. Thomas Carpenter has been associated with Special Touch Ministry since 1999. What started out as an invitation to be a chapel speaker, sparked a desire to make everyone aware of the great talents and gifts God has given to extraordinary people who happen to have a disability. An opportunity came about in 2012 for Thomas and Angelia to travel to Africa and Zambia. Their purpose in going was threefold. Number one, they wanted to connect with pastors of churches in South Africa concerning the need of ministry to people with disabilities. This was met with great openness and willingness to take action in their churches and communities. Secondly, they had been invited to speak at conferences and churches. Lastly, they felt compelled to fulfill their late sons request. When Buck was 6yrs. old and in Kindergarten, his teacher asked him to complete this sentence: I wish every kid…Buck replied, “I wish every kid had toys to play with in Africa.” They were able to hand out toys to a children’s home, and to new friends at a disability home. They are now serving as the International Component of Special Touch Ministry. Carpenter’s Brochure

Gayle Leach – Special Touch Missionary Representative

Rev. Gayle Leach experienced the dynamic way God uses Special Touch Ministry in 1986 she began attending Summer Get Away with her husband, Tom. God used Special Touch to heal hurts caused by living with quadriplegia and to pave the way back into full-time ministry after Tom’s car wreck in 1983. Tom and Gayle served together on the ministry’s full-time staff since 1995 and Gayle continues to serve the ministry since Tom went to be with the Lord.

Marshall & Gilda Wise – Special Touch Missionary Representatives

Marshall and Gilda Wise have been in full-time ministry since their marriage in 1970. Ministry opportunities have included ministering to the dependent and juvenile delinquent populations before entering pastoral ministry in 1979. The family’s life was forever changed when Chad was born, significantly ahead of schedule and with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Entering the world of people with disabilities has been rewarding, challenging, painful and purposeful…a lifelong learning curve! However, as God would have it, following their retirement from pastoral ministry in 2011, Marshall and Gilda have accepted the call to join Special Touch and developing the ministry in North and South Carolina.the3wiseguys@specialtouch.org

Robyn Stawski – Missionary Associate

Robyn was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy shortly after birth. She was later diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, due to a childhood vaccine. Robyn is a U.S. and International Paralympics medalist. She holds a Bachelors degree in Public Relations/Journalism. Robyn sees herself as a Christian first and then an athlete, spreading hope throughout the world. God called her from the sports field to the mission field. Robyn has committed to serve as a Missionary Associate with Special Touch Ministry from her location in Florida.

Matt & Carolyn Espina – Missionary Associates

Matt was raised in a Christian home and always knew that God had a plan for ministry in his life. When he was 25, he felt God calling him to attend Southeastern University. There he received his degree in church leadership and ministry. When a missionary visiting his church spoke about the Special Touch Florida Summer Get Away, Matt felt that God wanted him to go and volunteer as a caregiver. That week not only touched his heart, it changed his life. After time spent connecting with the Special Touch Leadership, God finally opened the door, in 2012 for Matt to become a Missionary Associate.

Nilda Rivera – Missionary Associate

In the spring of 2012, Nilda became a Licensed Assemblies of God Minister. That fall, she took another huge step by joining the Special Touch Ministry Team on a Missions Trip to the Dominican Republic. The next summer, Nilda became a Missionary Associate. Nilda is an accomplished speaker and singer. She is actively involved with the Special Touch local Chapter ministry and hopes to continue traveling on missions trips and fulfilling her calling as God opens doors.

Tom & Cindy Maher – Missionary Associates

Raised in Louisiana, Tom Maher left his traditional Catholic upbringing at 16 and began his "quest for God", serving in many Louisiana churches. God continued to lead him on a journey that would take him to Nebraska and finally, to Wisconsin. In 2013 Tom realized that he was called toward serving as a Special Touch Missionary Associate. Tom and his wife Cindy have been married over 30 years. They have been a part of developing the current Summer Get Away Tech program, working with ministry leaders to enhance and strengthen this backbone of the Special Touch Summer Get Away program for the future.

Mike & Kim Ferguson – Missionary Associates

Mike and Kim have an enormous passion for serving people impacted by disability. This couple had been first affected by disability themselves when their son, Chris, was diagnosed with Asperger’s. In 2011, they began with Special Touch as volunteers at Special Touch North East Region Summer Get Away. The need for disability ministry became even more apparent to them when the son of a good friend was in an accident. They realized that the three greatest needs of people with disabilities were support, practical help, and a church family. Mike and Kim have been strong leaders with Special Touch. From running fundraisers and Chapters to coordinating a Summer Get Away, as Missionary Associates they intend to continue serving as needed to meet the ongoing needs of people impacted by disability.

Jerry & Cherie Tinsman – Ministry Representatives

Rev. Jerry and Cherie Tinsman have been involved with Special Touch Ministry as volunteer recreation staff and assistant to the Coordinator at Arizona Summer Get Away. From the platform of Special Needs Directors at Phoenix First Assembly of God church, which has one of the largest disability ministries on the west coast, they continue to forge ahead impacting the disability community in different regions of Arizona. They enjoy being part of a team that provides opportunities for people are able to be themselves and worship God freely, so becoming Missionary Representatives seemed like the next logical step for them in their goal of helping expand the Kingdom of God. Jerry and Cherie will work from their Arizona location to connect churches, businesses, and individuals with the services and programs provided by Special Touch Ministry.

Lori Bullington – Missionary Associate

Lori was diagnosed with the same condition as her two older brothers, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, when she was a year and a half. She grew up surrounded by others who lived with disabilities and always had a soft spot for those less fortunate. Lori felt God had a call on her life from an early age. After an initial contact with Special Touch Ministry in the early 1980’s, she was reintroduced to the ministry by her fellow Chapter officer, Roger McCall, and attended her first Florida Summer Get Away.
Since being involved in the local Special Touch Chapter and in various Summer Get Aways in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia, God has ignited a passion in Lori for reaching the community of individuals with disabilities for Christ. Her passion also encompasses helping the local church grasp the vastness of this mission field and the value of these individuals as members of the community of faith. As a Missionary Associate with Special Touch, Lori seeks to answer the call God placed on her heart.

Duane & Tracie Corll – Missionary Associates

In college Tracie worked as a caregiver in a group home. Her supervisors knew that she was pursuing her teaching degree and asked if she would like to be an Adult Basic Education Teacher at their day programming center. After a few months, Tracie was asked to become the Director of the program. Eight years later, God directed her path back to education and she began teaching at Youngstown Christian School.
Each year, Directors Charlie and Debbie Chivers visit many churches, challenging congregations to consider the spiritual needs of people with disabilities in their communities. In 2014, they spoke at the church where Tracie and her husband, Duane, attend. Their message resonated with Duane and Tracie who have a special place in their hearts for people with disabilities. That morning, Tracie sensed God calling her to be a part of this ministry. Along with serving as Missionary Associates, Duane and Tracie are now coordinating the Ohio Special Touch Summer Get Away.

Todd & Synoilva Halbach – Missionary Associates

Growing up in Wisconsin, Todd accepted Christ as his personal savior through the Promise Keepers Men’s Ministries in Minneapolis, MN in 1995. In 2012, he began missions work, with trips to Mexico, Argentina, and Kenya. Over the years, Todd has also been involved in ministry to children and the elderly as well as serving for 15 years as a caregiver to people with disabilities at the New Hope Center. Joining Special Touch Ministry, Todd has served in multiple Summer Get Away and Chapter locations. Along with his new bride, Sylnoiva, they’d intend to continue helping people experience God’s love through salvation, healing and being a servant.

Brad & Becky Hutson – Ministry Representatives

In 1974, Becky’s nephew was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Even though Becky was a junior in high school, she learned through his short life that people with disabilities deserve to be loved. Becky prayed for an opportunity to work with people who have disabilities. After serving for a few years in disability ministry, Becky sensed God leading her to receive her credentials with the Assemblies of God. Not long after accomplishing this, she decided to join Special Touch Ministry, giving her a way to receive unconditional love, minister to others, and raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities.

Richard & Sara Pickrell – Missionary Associates

After Richard and Sara married, they dove straight into full-time ministry becoming Worship Pastors. Over the time and a lot of travel, they had four children. Their second oldest has moderate to severe autism. Having that diagnosis changed their lives and ministry. While on staff at a church in Wisconsin, Sara heard about Special Touch. Knowing the struggle first hand with a special needs child and being in ministry, Sara felt that families with disabilities needed a spiritually safe place to worship. She joined Special Touch with the intention of raising church awareness and helping other families from her location in the North Texas A/G district.

Brice & Cherie Evans – Missionary Associates

Since Brice began volunteering with Florida Special Olympics while he was in middle school, he realized he loved working with people impacted by disability. He attended the 2015 Special Touch Florida Summer Get Away as a caregiver and instantly fell in love with the ministry. Brice is excited to serve as a Missionary Associate with Special Touch.

Derrick Lemkke – Missionary Associate

Derrick was raised in Wisconsin. After he decided to make Christ the Lord of his life, he attended a college where he pursued the dreams that God placed in his heart. Derrick believes God called him to a ministry of helping people with disabilities. He has developed his skills as a Christian Caregiver. Derrick is fulfilling this divine call by using these skills as a Missionary Associate with Special Touch.

Randy Anderson – Missionary Associate

Randy Anderson has been a strong part of the Special Touch Ministry tech team. He has a heart for serving people with disabilities in a supportive role and looks forward to the direction God is guiding him as a Missionary Associate with Special Touch.

Rick Heitz – Missionary Associate

Rick Heitz was confronted by huge obstacles when he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s, with symptoms similar to Multiple Sclerosis. He serves in some volunteer roles helping others who are impacted by disability to overcome their challenges. Rick’s passion is to help the church to become more involved in the lives of people with disabilities.